Liu Qiang

Beijing sees Manila as a troublemaker

Rival claimant states interpret developments in the South China Sea very differently. Here are two points of view.

Liu Qiang

On Tuesday last week, the Philippines again created trouble in the South China Sea by illegally detaining 11 Chinese fishermen and seizing a boat in the waters off China's Half Moon Shoal in the Nansha Islands. On the same day, the Philippine military announced a so-called South China Sea defence plan, and said that in order to protect the Philippines' "national interest", it will resist "China's increasingly assertive behaviour in the South China Sea".

The Philippines has recently been creating trouble in the South China Sea. It sent a supply ship to the Ren'ai Reef off China's Nansha Islands; held joint military exercises with the United States; and illegally detained Chinese fishermen and boats. Its defence plan highlights its increasingly aggressive stance on the South China Sea issue.

China has long advocated the use of peaceful means to resolve international disputes and remains committed to resolving the South China Sea issue on the basis of universally accepted maritime laws, for which it has even put forward the idea of "shelving disputes and carrying out common development".

Some countries involved in South China Sea disputes, including the Philippines, have taken China's tolerance as cowardice and are acting aggressively. The Philippines' provocative actions challenge China's ability to safeguard its national sovereignty.

Since the Philippines does not measure up to China either in economic or military strength, why does it dare to repeatedly create trouble in the South China Sea?

The answer lies in the US-Philippine alliance. The Philippines is not alone in thinking that it will become invincible because of its alliance with the US; some other Asian countries think so too. And the US is taking advantage of these countries to implement its strategic rebalancing to Asia to weave a new Asia-Pacific security pattern.

This has given the Philippines an opportunity to fish in troubled waters. The US believes China's rapid rise has broken the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific, so it has to implement its "pivot to Asia" strategy.

Manila believes the main goal of Washington's rebalancing strategy is to prevent China from replacing the US as the dominant power in the Asia-Pacific. Encouraged by this assumption, the Philippines is using the US' muscle to "legitimise" its illegal occupation of China's islands and reefs. The fact is, the US' rebalancing strategy has failed to restore peace and stability in the region.

On the contrary, it has disrupted the relatively stable strategic situation and raised the risk of conflicts and clashes. Given such a situation, the US should persuade its allies not to create trouble in the South China Sea.

Besides, the collusion among some countries locked in disputes with China over the South China Sea has also prompted Manila to take provocative actions against China. The Philippines and Vietnam illegally occupy many of China's islands and reefs in the South China Sea. Therefore, the two countries usually act in collusion over the South China Sea issue.

Just a day after Manila detained the 11 Chinese fishermen, Vietnamese vessels intentionally collided with Chinese vessels in order to disrupt normal drilling operations by the China side in its waters. The incident reflects how Hanoi and Manila have joined hands to hype up the South China Sea issue to illegally seize China's islands and reefs.

However, Manila's actions will be opposed by countries eager to maintain peace and stability in the region. And ultimately, the Philippine people will protest against the US' strengthened military presence in their country because of the painful memories of US colonial rule in the Philippines.

Given the progress of a "new type of major-power relationship" between China and the US, Washington might eventually disappoint its Asian allies when it comes to their disputes with Beijing. After all, US foreign policy has always given priority to its own interests. Also, it is doubtful whether the US will enter into full confrontation with China and seriously damage its interests, just to humour its allies.

Above all, the Philippines should stop creating trouble in the South China Sea and testing Beijing's patience because even with the US' help, it cannot win an all-out confrontation with China. It is time the Philippines realised that the countries occupying Chinese territory will end up paying a heavy price. Also, the South China Sea disputes are between China and some South-east Asian countries. So, the involvement of other parties will only complicate the matter further.

China has always advocated friendly negotiations with disputing countries to resolve the disputes because it believes that they can properly handle the issue to maintain peace and stability in the region. If the Philippines (and other disputing countries) share this belief, Manila must release the Chinese fishermen as soon as possible, instead of complicating the matter further.

CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

The writer is professor and director of the International Security Research Centre, affiliated to People's Liberation Army International Relations University.

The Straits Times

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